Literary Translation
Literary translation preserves the author's voice, rhythm and intent across languages. It requires more time, more conversation and a different kind of attention than commercial translation.
About this service
Literary translation is the hardest kind to get right. It is not just about converting words from one language to another. It is about preserving the rhythm of a sentence, the weight of a metaphor, the voice of a narrator who has taken years to develop. A thriller should feel tense in Spanish as it does in English. A poem about solitude should carry that solitude across linguistic borders without becoming something different. We translate fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays and cultural texts. We work slowly and carefully, with attention to the specific demands of each source text. If you are translating a novel, we discuss character voice and register before we begin. If it is poetry, we acknowledge upfront that word-for-word translation rarely works and agree on an approach together with the author or their estate. This service is not suited to urgent timelines. Literary work requires time and ongoing dialogue. We expect to have conversations about specific passages throughout the project, and we think that is the only responsible way to approach it.
What you receive
Who this is for
Or see all plans: Pricing